Trapped in her darkness

10- Don't be nice

James PoV

The parents and the teens were shocked, their lips gaping; not sure whether to breathe or scream. They stared at Harper, their eyes bulging from their sockets.

“What do you mean, dear?” my father asks.

Harper takes a deep breath and looks at everyone sitting at the table, but she does not answer him.

I am surprised by her reticence, since she is the one who brought it up in the first place. I was more than happy to go with my lie.

Harper glances at Dakota, Carl and Kaya, then she looks at Sawyer, Ethan, and me. She is hesitant to talk in front of the kids. Which is very thoughtful of her…

Thankfully, Sawyer overcomes the initial shock faster than I, as she asks the teens to take Stella and Camden for a walk.

“I am sorry, James. I know you do not want them to worry, but I cannot lie to kind people who welcome me with open arms.”

“It’s OK.” I reassure her as I see her eyes haunted by inner turmoil.

“James senior, Mary, I was running from bad people… very bad people when Connor and James took me over… It.. It started with my mother…” she sighs as she narrates her troubles.

“I know it is a question of time before they find me, and I sense your legitimate concern for your sons’ safety. I understand if you prefer I leave James’ house.” She ends her monologue, her eyes watery and her voice strained.

“Why would we ask you to leave?” my mother asks, genuinely confused.

Harper’s eyes blink repeatedly in shock. She looks at me, then at my parents. She did not expect this answer.

“You really thought that we would ask you to leave, knowing that you are in danger?”

“But…I mean… Yes…” she stutters.

“In this family, we have each other's backs. And now that your path brought you to my sons, you are part of the pack.” My mother smiles at her.

Harper’s hands quiver and she folds them together to control the tremors.

“Hey, are you OK?” I ask her.

She looks at me, the raw pain swirling in her eyes again and she shakes her head repeatedly.

I open my mouth to reassure her, but she suddenly stands up, rigid. She puts her hand on her chest as if to control her heartbeat. She is still shaking her head.

“I’m … I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

“Hey, Harper, there is nothing to be sorry about.” I tell her.

I try to put my hand on her shoulder, but she pulls away from my touch.

“I… I’m going to need a moment, sorry.” She mumbles as she runs away, her hand on her mouth, muffling a sob.

“Harper!” I yell as I run after her.

“Harper!” yells Connor and he runs after her as well.

“Why are they both running after her?” I hear my mom.

“Ohhh… They are both pinning for the same girl!” she says just a few seconds later.

I hear a commotion, but I am too far away now to fully hear them, and to be honest I do not care. I am focused on the fleeting delicate figure running away from me.

When I catch up with her, I pull her in a hug, my hand on the back of her head, almost forcing her to rest her head on my chest.

“Harper… Calm down, my little harp… Shhh….”

We stay like that for a few minutes, her crying, and me, comforting her.

“Why are you crying, little harp?” I ask her when she calms down.

“I’m sorry… I … I am an emotional mess.”

“What happened?” I insist.

“It… It’s… It’s that you were all so welcoming and supportive.” She murmurs, her head held down.

“People being nice to you put you in pain?” I chuckle softly, trying to make her laugh.

“You won’t understand.” She shakes her head.

“Make me.”

She just stands there, her eyes focused on her shoes, unable to talk.

“Harper?”

“Damn it, James! You don’t understand! Yes, your friends and family being nice to me hurt me. It kills me from the inside… I wish I had not met you… I wish I had not met you.” she starts crying again.

I hug her tight and let her get all this pain out.

“They were not supposed to be nice. None of you were supposed to be nice… I … You should have been horrible to me… I wish you threw me out…” she mutters as she cries out.

My heart clenches tightly in my chest. How traumatizing her life must have been for her to reject compassion… For her to wish we threw her out.

“You are my friend Harper… And friends help each other… You are a good person, and you deserve to live without looking back over your shoulder.”

“I am a good person… I really am…I am a good person” she says over and over again.

“I know you are. And Connor also believes in you. Right Connor?” I ask my brother who has been standing a few feet behind me.

“Of course, I believe in her.” Connor says.

I push myself away from her and signal to Connor to take her in his arms. It pains me to let her go, but I know my brother and he will make a big fuss if I keep her in my embrace.

I leave her in his arms and walk away, and I hear her repeating this same sentence, as if she is trying to convince us and herself that she is a good person.

“Is she OK?” Sawyer asks me when I get back to the dinner table. Only Sawyer, Ethan and Andrew were still sitting there.

“Yes. She is with Connor. She was overwhelmed by all of this.” I told them.

“Did you get the information for Jonathan?” Ethan asks.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Now is not the time.”

“James!”

“Ethan!”

“James, you are way too deep, and you know nothing about this woman! This is not normal.”

“Did you at least ask her for the information?” Andrew joins the discussion.

I do not answer them, my eyes on Connor and Harper, still hugging each other.

“James?” Andrew calls me.

Ethan’s eyes do not leave me, his eyebrows furrowed.

“f**k!” He mutters.

“What?” asks Andrew.

“He asked her, and she did not answer!” Ethan curses.

“You know that this is a red flag, James! You know it!” he adds.

“It is not as simple as that. She is worried this could lead the gang to her or her parents.”

“Bullshit!” Ethan scowls, glaring at me.

“I don’t know, Ethan. She seems sincere.” Andrew tries to break the tension.

“Five minutes.” Spits Ethan.

“What?”

“Give me five minutes with her and I will get the information for Jonathan.”

“You will not talk to her, Ethan. I know how rough you can be.” I instantly reject his request.

“James, this does not add up.”

“So, she refuses to answer a few questions, and immediately you blacklist her?” I mock him.

“She refuses to give you any information whatsoever. What do you know about her? Except for this sappy story?”

“Ethan, drop it, honey.” Sawyer interjects.

“But…”

Sawyer puts her finger on his mouth and shakes her head.

“Sawyer, baby, you cannot expect me to just sit down and see him make a huge mistake.”

“What huge mistake, Ethan? Just tell me.”

“Ok. That’s it. We are not fighting. Both of you are ruining brunch day!” Andrew scolds us.

“As if you care about brunch, anyways!” Ethan rolls his eyes.

No one says anything afterward. We just sit there in an awkward silence, each one of us lost in their own world.

I understand Ethan’s reticence. I know that he is looking out for me. But I believe Harper. I believe what I saw just now. The raw emotions taking over her… I choose to believe her…

“Is everything OK?” Connor asks as both Harper and him join us again.

“Yes.” Sawyer replies.

“I … I am sorry for making a scene.” Harper apologizes, her cheeks pink from embarrassment.

“You don’t have to apologize.” Sawyer smiles.

“Good! Here you are!” says mom as she joins us with Vicky, Trevor, and Chloe.

“We agreed that we will meet every afternoon at James’ place for the wedding planning” Vicky says, smiling at Harper.

Harper looks at the girls, her eyes wide open, surprised once again by their considerate gesture. They did not have to change their plans for her. Yet, they decided to include her in the planning and to make sure she does not feel too lonely all alone at home.

“What?” she asks.

“Well, we decided if you cannot come to the party, we will bring the party to you” giggles Chloe as she sits in Trevor’s lap.

The conversation flows easily again, and everyone is pitching in about the upcoming double wedding. I glance at Ethan, and he seems busy on his phone. I don’t think much of it until he puts his phone at a weird angle, pointing towards Harper.

Is he secretly taking her picture?!